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A breast cancer diagnosis can be terrifying, but one type of early-stage disease is noninvasive and has high survival odds.
There have been an estimated 297,790 new cases of breast cancer diagnosed in the United States so far this year, the U.S. National Cancer Institute reports. Of those, ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) cancer accounts for about 20% of cases, the American Cancer Society says.
Below, experts will discuss what DCIS is, what causes it, what symptoms you should watch for, and what treatments are available. Finally, they will look at the important things to know about living with DCIS.
This is a type of noninvasive breast cancer that occurs in the milk ducts. The term “in situ” indicates the cancer has not spread outside of the milk ducts, making it a stage 0 cancer.
While it isn’t clear what causes DCIS breast cancer, researchers do know that it occurs when there are genetic mutations in the DNA of the milk duct cells. Though experts don’t yet know what triggers these mutations, according to Mayo Clinic, there are some risk factors associated with DCIS. These include the following:
According to Dr. Bonnie Sun, of the John Hopkins Breast Center, DCIS doesn’t have specific symptoms such a lump or breast pain.
“Most cases are diagnosed in a mammogram before causing any symptoms,” Sun said in a recent Hopkins article. DCIS most commonly shows up on a mammogram as new calcium deposits. Sometimes a distortion of the breast tissue on the scan can be a sign of DCIS.
Once the cancerous cells start to invade the milk duct walls, you might notice itching or the formation of a sore.
Because of the lack of symptoms, annual mammograms are the best way to discover DCIS.
While DCIS is noninvasive, it is important to take care of it before it can spread into the walls of the ducts and out into the breast. There are two main options for treatment, the Mayo Clinic says.
According to Sun, the outlook after DCIS diagnosis is encouraging.
“With continued, rigorous monitoring, the prognosis for DCIS is excellent,” she explained. “Your doctor will recommend a regular screening schedule to guard against recurrence in the original breast, and to monitor the other breast for any signs of malignancy. Our expectation is for a complete resolution of the problem with proper treatment. This is a local disease, and treatment by surgery can be sufficient.”
A study published recently in the BMJ indicated that women who developed DCIS were at much higher risk of developing breast cancer again at some point. Therefore, follow-up and diagnostic screening is a very important part of the patient’s after-care plan.
A diagnosis of DCIS, while bringing anxiety and challenges, is a very treatable cancer. With proper diagnosis and treatment, DCIS can be cured.
Although a breast cancer diagnosis is always scary, an early, noninvasive type known as DCIS is very treatable and has a good prognosis.